Reported crimes rise 6 p.c.

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 3

Reported crimes rise 6 p.c.

PA Wellington Reported crimes rose 6 per cent last year, said the Commissioner of Police. Mr R. J. Walton, yesterday. Burglaries classified as “serious crimes” increased more than 32 per cent, but there were fewer murders and reported sexual attacks and rapes than in 1981.

The over-all rise in the number of crimes was almost double that of 1981, when the 3.6 per cent increase over the previous year was the lowest for many years. But it was well down on 1979 (11.1 per cent) and 1978 (10.56 per cent).

A total 383.841 offences were reported last year, against 362,010 in 1981 and 349.193 the previous year. Crimes classified as serious were up 9 per cent and violent offences rose 10.4 per cent. Offences described as dishonesty were up 8.3 per cent to 242.128.

All sexual offences showed an over-all rise of 5.3 per cent to 2953. "However, sexual attacks taken in isolation and rapes both decreased, the former 14.5 per cent from 1171 to 1001 and the latter 10.1 per cent from 316 in 1981 to 284 last year.” Mr Walton emphasised that the statistics related to reported rapes and said he was not prepared to speculate on the level of such crimes that went unreported. He said offences involving hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium, and morphine all showed a strong decline in 1982, although can-nabis-related offences increased 32.5 per cent. This he attributed to increased local cultivation of the drug and the willingness of the public to report sightings.

There were 31 murders last year, against 49 in 1981. Only one — that of a Christ-

church pensioner. Alfred Anderson, who was stabbed in his Waltham home — remains unsolved. But cases of manslaughter rose 145 per cent, from 11 in 1981 to 27 last year. Property valued at $125.6 million was criminally appropriated last year. Of this, the police recovered $5B million, just under half. Cars worth a total $57.8 million were stolen or converted in 1982. more than $37 million worth being recovered. Mr Walton referred to “the continuing spiral of crime." but said the police had increased their clearance rate of crimes to 48.4 per cent, from 47.8 per cent in 1981. A total of 83.4 per cent of violent crimes were cleared up. The district with the highest crime-clearance rate last year was Invercargill, with 62.3 per cent.